QUICK GUIDE ENERGY PERFORMANCE

Other than windows, your front door is your main weak spot in terms of thermal efficiency. Gaps in the frame can let air in and features like an embedded letterbox will exacerbate this. Thermal performance is usually measured as a U-value – the higher the number, the more heat is lost through a component. A door to new build home should have a U-value of less than 2.0. “A good quality front door should achieve well below this,” says Matt Higgs, director at Kloeber. If you’re looking to build a Passivhaus, there are specific standards associated with this, and you’ll need to ensure your front door is certified by the scheme.